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The Codex Foundation

EIN 11-3763607 · Berkeley, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 72 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE CODEX FOUNDATION LOGAN BOOK ARTS CENTER AIMS TO BE A VITAL PART OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY IN BERKELEY AND BEYOND, FOCUSING ON THE BOOK AS A WORK OF ART-A DYNAMIC CROSSROADS BETWEEN THE VISUAL AND LITERARY ARTS.

Income
$180,771
Spending
$417,787
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
3
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$85,500, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 131% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 72 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $62,251 spent. THE FOUNDATION HAS AN ACTIVE PUBLISHING PROGRAM. ITS FUNCTION IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BOOK AS A WORK OF ART. PUBLISHING ALSO ADVANCES THE CAREERS OF THOSE WORKING IN THE FIELD BY SHARING AND PROMOTING THEIR WORK. OUR PUBLICATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIALOGUE, SCHOLARSHIP, AND CRITICAL THEORY SURROUNDING ARTISTS' BOOKS WITHIN THE FIELD OF CONTEMPORARY ART. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO PUBLISH ITS JOURNAL, MONOGRAPH SERIES, EXHIBITION CATALOGS, AND SPECIAL BOXED PORTFOLIOS CONTAINING ORIGINAL PRINTS AND WORKS ON PAPER. ANOTHER ASPECT OF OUR PUBLISHING PROGRAM IS A WORKSHOP LED BY ONE OF OUR COFOUNDERS ON MOST SATURDAYS. HE LEADS A GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE CREATION OF POETRY CHAPBOOKS USING VARIOUS PRINTMAKING AND BOOKBINDING TECHNIQUES.
  2. $108,939 spent. WE OFFER PUBLIC-FACING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FROM OUR BRICK-AND-MORTAR LOCATION IN BERKELEY, SUCH AS EXHIBITIONS, LECTURES, AND WORKSHOPS. WE ALSO HAVE A GROWING LIBRARY, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND HOUSES ARTISTS' BOOKS, FINE PRESS PUBLICATIONS, AND A BOOK ARTS REFERENCE LIBRARY USED TO PROMOTE RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP. WE HAVE A VIBRANT INTERNSHIP AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WHERE INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE FIELD GET TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE BY HELPING US WITH PROJECTS IN OUR HISTORIC LETTERPRESS STUDIO, BINDERY, AND LIBRARY. THEY WORK ON DESIGNING AND PRINTING VARIOUS EPHEMERA RELATED TO OUR ACTIVITIES AS A NONPROFIT, LEARNING THE HISTORY, CRAFT, AND TRADE SURROUNDING THE HISTORY, ART, AND CRAFT OF THE BOOK.
  3. $140,064 spent. THE FOUNDATION ORGANIZES A BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AND SYMPOSIUM TO BRING THE COMMUNITY OF MAKERS, SCHOLARS, LIBRARIANS, AND CURATORS WITH THE PUBLIC. THE SYMPOSIUM FEATURES PROMINENT SPEAKERS WHO ARE EDUCATORS, WRITERS, AND ARTISTS, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE BEST IN THE FIELD. THE EXHIBITION BRINGS TOGETHER ARTISTS, CRAFTSPEOPLE, ACADEMICS, INDEPENDENT SCHOLARS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY BOOK ART INSTITUTIONS. IT DEVELOPS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE COMMUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FIELD. THIS EVENT INVOLVES STUDENT GROUPS AND OFFERS BOTH RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS AND EMERGING ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS. COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN GET INVOLVED AS VOLUNTEERS FOR FREE ENTRY TO THE EVENT, AND WE ARRANGE ADDITIONAL EVENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.